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Thursday, 21 February 2008

Baked Chocolate Mousse

This is an original creation that I came up with for my Daughter's 4th Birthday. I had been wondering for a while what would happen if I used Chocolate and used it to make a sort of Chocolate Pudding, much like how I would make a Creme Caramel - minus the caramel of course. I decided that I had just better stop wondering and try it out. The more I thought about it and the more I ran the idea through my head, I figured that the recipe had all the ingredients for a Chocolate Mousse although I wouldnt separate the eggs. I also thought that I would probably need to add some flour into the mix to stabilise it. This is what I came up with.

MethodMelt the chocolate over a double boiler and let cool. Meanwhile, beat eggs with sugar till nice and foamy. Add in the melted chocolate and continue beating till nicely incorporated. In a separate bowl, whip cream to soft peaks. Fold into the chocolate mixture and then add in sifted corn flour. Mix well to incorporate. Pour into a 9" round pan and place in a water bath. Bake in 180C oven for about 30 minutes.

The top of the dessert formed a slight crust and then I let it cool before placing it in the fridge overnight. I didn't realise however that I could have a problem removing it from the pan to plate it!! In hindsight, it would have been better to use a springform pan. Nonetheless, I used a hairdryer to warm the sides and base of the pan and fortunately the dessert slipped out nicely.

I didnt have a flat enough plate so the dessert cracked a little and that is why I dusted it with some Snow Powder. I think it gave it a nice look anyway.

How did it taste? Heavenly! It was simply delicious and tasted like a mix between Rich Chocolate Ice Cream and a Mousse. The texture was velvety yet firm - almost like a cheesecake.

What I might do differently the next time is maybe add a teaspoon of baking powder to see if it becomes lighter. I'd also more than likely either line the pan with greaseproof paper or maybe make a base of biscuits. Whatever it is, this is simply a fantastic dessert for Chocolate Lovers!

The only thing that remained was what to call this. Since I went into it with just a foggy idea of what I wanted, I never bothered to think about what to call it - I wasn't even sure if it would turn out alright. Everyone loved it and they all wanted to know what it was called. So, since it tastes like a chocolate mousse, and since its baked what better name to call it than simply a Baked Chocolate Mousse! I think I have definitely hit on a winner here!